Do shocks work upside-down?

[Hardy]

I know they don't work good sideways!

I'm having trouble finding correct spec shock to suit my suspension mods - mostly to do with eye/stud combos.
A lot of specs sheets say "stud top, eye bottom"etc - actually nominating a top and a bottom.

Do shock absorbers have same compresion/rebound characteristics?
Does it makes a differance which way they go?


Thanks,
Hardy

[hotrod4x4]

they all have diff settings
rancho and others r adjustable

as a general rule......no.....makes no diff running them upside down

but may b few brands out there that dont like it....not sure on every brand

and u can buy pin to eye adaptors from most shops....or big balls etc

[LEXX]

Seeing I'm to lazy to write it myself I'll quote someone how has been in the business for a while:

"Shockers have two jobs, to control compression and rebound and convert that energy into heat, basically as you slam a pot hole hard the shock will work fast and lite to absorb the belt, then on rebound release the compressed spring slower than it would like to so as to control the thing, hence shockers (espessially gas charged ones like the OME) have a specific mounting direction cos there is a different rebound and compression spec in any shock, steering dampers have equal rates, so IF a shocker was to work inverted you would have the rates all up the shitter."

[hotrod4x4]

well i spose it may depend on brands

cause i kno shitloads of people including myself that have run them inverted without an issue

[Pal]

The shocks should be run correct way up.
If cavitation occurs it may happen around the valves if the shock is up side down.
Some can be run either way up.

Do shock absorbers have same compresion/rebound characteristics?

No, shocks all have different rebound and compression characteristics depending on the application the manufacturer intended.
eg leaf spring shocks will have less compression damping than a similar shock for a coil sprung vehicle.

[Pal]

Seeing I'm to lazy to write it myself I'll quote someone how has been in the business for a while:

"Shockers have two jobs, to control compression and rebound and convert that energy into heat, basically as you slam a pot hole hard the shock will work fast and lite to absorb the belt, then on rebound release the compressed spring slower than it would like to so as to control the thing, hence shockers (espessially gas charged ones like the OME) have a specific mounting direction cos there is a different rebound and compression spec in any shock, steering dampers have equal rates, so IF a shocker was to work inverted you would have the rates all up the shitter."

Compression damping is still compression damping whether the shock is up side down or not!
Who are you quoting and its time for him to get out of the business.

[dumbdunce]

hi Pal, good to see you back!

Pal is quite correct about mounting direction having no impact on compression/rebound.

it comes down to this:

1. Monotube shocks may be run in either orientation as the gas is physically separated from the oil by a fully sealed piston.

2. Foam Cell twin tube shocks may be run upside down if and only if they are 100% oil filled. ranchos, for example, are not, and running them inverted can cause a gas 'bubble' around the piston, reducing or negating their damping. 4way's adjustables and foam cells are 100% oil filled and work ok inverted. other brands I have no data for.

3. Other twin tube shocks (ie anything without foam cell) cannot be run upside down - there is no barrier preventing the gas working its way to the top which is where the piston is working of the shock is upside down. bad.

[sup8pdct]

basically as you slam a pot hole hard the shock will work fast and lite to absorb the belt, then on rebound release the compressed spring slower than it would like to so as to control the thing, hence shockers (espessially gas charged ones like the OME) have a specific mounting direction cos there is a different rebound and compression spec in any shock, steering dampers have equal rates, so IF a shocker was to work inverted you would have the rates all up the shitter."[/quote]


no. if a shocki is inverted, it will still compress on axle travel up ie hit a bump and still extend on axle travel down, so rebound etc is still fine.
as for shockie working upsidedown, depends on the shocker.

James